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The welcome towards Ukrainian refugees is not as universal as it was in February, as shown by hostile comments from Irish people regarding refugees who were living in tents in a recycling centre.

Here are 21 reasons why Ireland is a better place today for taking care of refugees. And - ON THE OTHER HAND - there are 8 major concerns/challenges. What have we missed, good and bad?

Offaly Volunteer Centre officially opened its doors at Bury Quay, Tullamore, on Friday, March 4th. As chairperson Martin Buckley, founder member of Pullough Community Shop which recently won the ‘Unsung Hero of Offaly’ award, said, “The future of Offaly volunteering is well and truly established and I am proud to be part of something that is outstanding.”

In response to shootings and the activities of crime gangs in Darndale in Dublin and Drogheda in Co. Louth, a new place-based Leadership Development Programme was launched recently. It has high aspirations in areas beset by gang crime.

“I had thirteen children hanging out of my car one time and the guards stopped us. ‘Where are ye going?’ one of them roared. Luckily, one of our team managers was a guard – he said ‘Do no more about it. He’s taking children off the road.’” – recalls Billy Grehan. Above: Billy and Margaret attending a match.

Lantern festivals are popular the world over - from Hong Kong to Banjul to the Rhineland - and now they’ve seen the light in West Limerick! Askeaton’s ‘Féile Laindéir’  brought the River Deel to life in ways never before seen.

"I’ve seen so many examples of resilience in towns and villages the length and breadth of the country in recent months. Many of those were social enterprises." - Humphreys speaking at today's 3rd national social enterprise conference.

"My time volunteering is mostly spent in the ICU, cleaning hedgehog homes and doling out regular feedings to birds." - Grace Barrett reports on her visit to Ireland’s first wildlife hospital, in Meath.